Phillips v. Ottey et al
Filing
67
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DISMISSING Plaintiff's claim brought under Article 10 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights and DENYING 59 partial motion to dismiss, or, in the alternative, partial motion for summary judgment. Signed by Judge Deborah K. Chasanow on 1/4/2016. (sat, Chambers)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
:
ARTHUR PHILLIPS
:
v.
:
Civil Action No. DKC 14-0980
:
DR. COLIN OTTEY, et al.
:
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Defendants filed a partial motion to dismiss or for summary
judgment, arguing solely that, as non-governmental actors, they
are not subject to the First Amendment and thus Plaintiff’s
§ 1983 retaliation claim fails.1
Generally, of course, a prison
contractor can be liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, as acting under
color of state law.
West v. Adkins, 487 U.S. 42, 54 (1988).
Defendants cite no authority for treating First Amendment claims
differently than Eighth Amendment claims.
been discussed without any such distinction.
Similar claims have
See, e.g., Burton
v. Lynch, 664 F.Supp.2d 349, 366-68 (S.D.N.Y. 2009), Randle v.
Alexander, 960 F.Supp.2d 457, 482 (S.D.N.Y. 2013).
their argument to the contrary fails.
some
of
Defendants
(all
except
In a reply memorandum,
argue
that
respondeat superior cannot provide a basis for liability.
They
1
the
Accordingly,
Mr.
Flury)
The same analysis would apply to the parallel argument
under Article 19 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights. On the
other hand, Plaintiff concedes that his claim under Article 10
should be dismissed.
may well be correct, but the court declines to address an issue
raised for the first time in a reply memorandum.
Accordingly, it is this 4th day of January, 2016, by the
United
States
District
Court
for
the
District
of
Maryland
ORDERED that:
1.
Maryland
Plaintiff’s
claim
Declaration
of
brought
Rights
under
BE,
and
Article
the
same
10
of
hereby
the
IS
DISMISSED;
2.
Defendants’
partial
motion
to
dismiss
Plaintiff’s
amended complaint, or, in the alternative, partial motion for
summary judgment BE, and the same hereby IS, DENIED; and
3.
The
clerk
will
transmit
copies
of
this
Memorandum
Opinion and Order to counsel for the parties.
/s/
DEBORAH K. CHASANOW
United States District Judge
2
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